crandall



(No Model.)

LA. CRANDALL.v Y Nested Alphabet Blocks.

No. 243,362. vPatented June 28,1881.

iin/eases.

N. PETERS, Pholwljthugnphar. Wnshngmn, D. C-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE A. CRANDALL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD I. HORSMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

NESTED ALPHABET-BLOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 243,362, dated June 28, 1881. Application filed March 7, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEssE A. CRANDALL, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented an Improved Nesting Letter-Block, of which the following is a specification.

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved nesting letter-block, showing the parts thereof united. Fig. 2 is a central vertical Io section of the same; Fig. 3, a central vertical section of four part-s thereof; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of' the inner blocks contained in the nest.

rIhis invention relates to a new construction of a letter-block, whereby a series of blocks varying in size and design of outer faces can be packed, the one into the other, forming a nest of letter-blocks of which each member constitutes, if desired, a complete block in it- 2c self, all the members so properly put together taking up only as much room as the largest of the blocks.

The invention principallyeonsistsin so forming the blocks that they are hollow to receive each (except the smallest) a smaller one within its hold, and also so that each is a perfect cube on the outside and has a cavity capable of receiving a lesser cube on the inside, and open at one side, so that each block is capable out fitting into the cubic cavity ot' the next larger block and of receiving the next smaller block. To this end the bottom ot' each block is thicker than the sides, all as hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, the letters rt b c d e f g h j 7c l m a represent cubic letterblocks ot' dili'erent sizes,the block a being the smallest, the block n thelargest, ofthe series, and the intervening blocks being gradually 4o largerthan a. in the ordernamed, until the block mis nearly as large as the block n. Each ot' these blocks, excepting theblock @which is the smallest, ishollow, beingopen at one side, and each is a cube, and the cavityin each is also cubic. In

order to have the cavity in each block cubic, the bottom 2 of each block, which is opposite the open side, is doubly as thick as the sides 3, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. By this construction I am enabled to nest the blocks in 5o the manner shown in Fig. 2-that is to say, fit one within the other-until finally the solid block a closes the opening within the next smallest block, b, and produces one solid cube of the size of the largest block, n. Whenever desired a complete cube can be produced, closed on all sides, by placing in inverted position into any one of the blocks the next vsmaller one. Thus, in Fig. 3, the block l, receiving within it the block 7c in inverted position, produces in connection therewith a complete 6o cube and a complete letter-block; yet each cube or block of the series named is, for all practical purposes, a complete letter-block, as the open side can be placed at the bottom, and performs thus all the function of an ordinary letter-block, and the additional function of receiving within it the series which are to be nested together.

The great difficulty with letter -blocks as at present constructed-to wit, solid letter- 7o blocks-is that where many are used, and many are often required to properly teach the children, Inuch room is occupied in packing them. By my invention this difticulty is entirely overcome, as all the blocks can be nested together in manner clearly shown in Fig. 2, thus overcoming the principal objection, and all the blocks take up as much room, when packed, as one of them when in use. The number of the blocks is immaterial. 8c

I am fully aware that. boxes and egg-shaped shells have been packed together in nests, and do not seek to claim the nesting and packing one within the other; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination lot' a series of letterblocks, b c d e, of graduated sizes, with each other, each having one side open, and each having the bottom 2 doubly as thick as the 9o sides 3, a cubic exterior and a cubic interior form, nested one within the other, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the solid block a with the blocks b c d e, 86e., of gradually-increasing 95 size, said blocks b o d e being hollow and arranged to liest one Within the other, substantially as described. l

JESSE-A. ORANDALL.

Witnesses:

WILLY G. E. SeHUL'rz, HARRY M. TURK. 

